Vapor electric apparatus.



H. I. WOOD.

VAPOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

' APPLIOATIONIILED 11.15, 1904.

Patented Dec. K1909.

IHVQ NTOR Howard LWood I ttry.

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HOWARD I. WOOD, 0F SOHENE O'IADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VAPOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

Application filed January 18', 1904. Serial No. 189,413.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Howann I. Wool), a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county ofSchenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new andv useful Improvements in Vapor Electric Apparatus, of which the following is a specifi-- cation.

My present invention relates to'vapor electric apparatus and more especially to electric lamps of this type. It is to be understood, however, that various features of novelty of the invention, while exemplified in an electric lamp, are nevertheless of utility in other relations as well. My claims are, therefore, not to be limited to electric lamps.

The particular lamp which I have chosen as an illustration of my invention is practically horizontal or, at least, but slightly inclined toward the vertical, and comprises, among other features of construction, certain novel means for starting. The features of novelty characteristic of this means as well as of the other details of the lamp are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. For a further description of the in vention itself, however, reference is to be made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which represcntgone of the numerous em- .bodiments which my invention may assume tificial graphite, carbon, or the like is located, and is connected through a suitable leading-in conductor 3 with the external circuit of the lamp. In place of anclectrode of this character I may, of course, if. desired make use of a mercuryelectrode.

The cooperating electrode of the lamp consists of a body of mercury 4 located at the lower end of the tube and provided with a leading-in conductor 5 for making connection with the lamp circuit. A filament (5, similar to the filament of the ordinary incandescent lamp, extends lengthwise of the tube 1 between the two electrodes 2 and 4 and is permanently connected, electrically, to electrode 2 and detachably connected to electrode l. This filament is supported at intermediate points by perforated anchoring devices 7 and 8 of mica or similar material carried by glass lugs 9 and 10 fused to walls of the tube 1. The lower end of the filament, near the electrode 4, is free to move laterally of itslength. 1

A small glass rod 11 is arranged to move axially in a small tube 12 projecting vertically from the main tube 1. One end of this rod carries a piece of perforated mica 13 through which the filament t3 extends while to the other end of the 'rod is secured an armature 14, in this case a small iron tube. This armature is acted upon by a solenoid 1.5 surrounding the tube 12 as shown.

Before current is applied to the lamp the parts occupy. the positions shown in the drawing. As soon, however, as current passes, the solenoid 15, which is connected in series with the lampand being thus ener gized, causes the free cnd of the filament (i to be lifted out. of engagement. with the surface of the mercury 4. The spark or incipient are which thus follows then extends instantaneously from the electrode 4: up the tube along the filament 6 to the electrode 2. The filament serves merely to assist in starting the are but, after the arc is started, due to its relatively high resistance, it has practically no effect as a means of current conduction in the tube. After the lamp has been thus started the filament continues to be held out of engagement with the mercury electrode 4 until such time asthere may be an interruption in the current flow, when a retin agement then takes place and, if the supply mains still remain energized, a restarting of the lamp takes place. After the lamp is in operation the surplus mercury vapor produced is condensed in the condensing chamber 16 communicating with tube 1 at a point intermediate its ends.

What I claim as new and desire, to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. The combination of an exhausted errvelop, electrodes therein one, at least, of which is adapted to emit'vapor, a filament having one end resting on or in the vapor emittin 'electrode, and positively operating means or moving the filament laterally out of engagement with said vapor emitting electrode.

2. In a vapor electric apparatus, the combination of a. vaporizable electrode, a filament or similar flexible conductor having one end resting on. said vaporizable electrode, an armature connected to the filament, and means itor moving the armature so as to produce lateral motion of the filament.

3. In a vapor electric apparatus, the combination of an exhausted envelop, electrodes therein, a filament extending between said electrodes, and mica supports for said filament.

4. The combination of an inclined tube, an electrode in the upper end of the tube, an electrode in the lower end of the tube, a filament or similar conductor extending between said electrodes, an armature connected at one end of the filament, and means for moving said armature to producelateral motion of the filament.

5. The combination of a tubular exhaust ed envelop, electrodes therein, a filament extending between said electrodes, and. means connected to the filament for producing lateral movement thereof.

6. The combination of an exhausted envelop, a vaporizable electrode, a filament resting sidewise on or in said electrode, and a magnet for producing a continuous lateral displacement of the filament.

7. The combination of a vaporizable electrode, a filament having one end resting sidewise on or in said e ectrode, and means for moving the end of the filament out 01 engagement with the electrode and holding it out of engagement.

8. The combination of a vaporizable electrode, a filament having one end resting sidewise on or in said electrode,-and electrical means for moving the end of the filament out of engagement with the electrode and holding-it out of engagement.

9. The combination of an envelop, electrodes therein, one at least of which is adapted to emit vapor, a filament having one end rigidly secured within said envelop and its other end supported by the vapor e1nitting electrode, an armature of magnetic inaterial connected to said filament, and electro magnetic means operable on said armature to move the filament relatively to said vapor emitting electrode.

10. The combination of an envelop, electrodes therein, a filament extending between said electrodes, said filament being radially connected to one of said electrodes, an armature of magnetic material connected near one end of said filament and electro magneticmeans operable on said arn'iature for moving the filamentout of engagement with one of said electrodes.

11. The combination of an nvelop, electrodes therein. one at least of which is adapted to emit vapor, means for-electrically connecting said electrodes within said envelop, said. connecting means being free to move laterally at one end, and a coil for exerting a magnetic attraction to liil t said connecting means out of contact with one ol' said electrodes.

in witness whereof l. have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of January, lQO-l.

HOlVARD I. \V 001 ll itnesses BENJAMIN B. HULL, TTELEN Onronn. 

